Syria crisis situation update (Issue 58), 26 August 2013

Conflict is increasingly encroaching on UNRWA camps with shelling and clashes continuing to take place in and nearby a number of camps. A reported 6 Palestine Refugees (PR) including 1 child were killed this week as a result. UNRWA estimates over 50% of registered PR are now displaced either in Syria or to neighbouring countries.

Approximately 235,000 refugees are displaced in Syria with over 200,000 in Damascus, around 6600 in Aleppo, 4500 in Latakia, 3050 in Hama, 6450 in Homs and 13,100 in Dera’a. 8,732 PR from Syria (PRS) have registered with UNRWA for assistance in Jordan. UNRWA tracks reports of PRS in Egypt, Turkey, Gaza and UNHCR reports up to 1000 fled to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Staff member detained and then released in Homs. Intermittent and sporadic hostilities continued in and around Yarmouk refugee camp. Several shells impacted inside the camp causing the deaths of 3 PR including one newborn girl. 3 PR also killed in Qabr Essit due to hostilities and unverified social media reports 25 PR may have been killed in the alleged chemical weapon attack in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus on Tuesday.

Increase in the number of reported airstrikes in and around the camps this week in Eastern Damascus, Husseiniyah, Douma and Darayya and Moadhamiyeh.

All 4 Area Offices and Syria Field Office in Damascus operational all week with most staff attending.

8 staff members killed in the conflict, 15 staff currently detained or reported missing and 14 staff injured. 21 UNRWA vehicles stolen and not accounted for.